For Immediate Release
October 15, 2010
“Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty.
Joseph Wresinski
In recognition of World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty (October 17) the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) is challenging social workers and all Canadians concerned with the eradication of poverty to sign-up on line to the Striving Together to End Poverty movement being advanced by the international partners behind the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
“The symbolic gesture of signing your name onto a movement demanding action to end poverty may seem simple” stated CASW President Darlene MacDonald. “However its’ importance is self evident when compounded with the international movements driving change.”
Along with encouraging individual efforts towards ending poverty both inside and outside our borders, CASW continues to demand that the Government of Canada honour its commitments to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
“Individual commitments to end poverty also mean that we have a duty to make certain that our governments are meeting the commitments to the world made on our behalf” stated MacDonald. “Social workers have taken notice that the decision made by the Government of Canada to freeze foreign aid spending for the next five years puts Canada’s commitments at risk.”
For more information or to sign up for the Striving Together to End Poverty campaign, please visit http://www.oct17.org.
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For more information:
Darlene MacDonald, President
casw@casw-acts.ca Tel.: 613.729.6668